SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN WAS RIGHT THING TO DO

Gov. Bob Holden recently signed, with a distinct lack of fanfare, the bill banning same-sex marriage in Missouri. The bill had passed the Missouri Legislature overwhelmingly, as indeed it has several times in recent years.

This subject isn't one which supporters of traditional marriage brought about. It is a measure necessitated by backers of same-sex marriage who have pressed their case in states, such as Vermont and Hawaii, whose courts or legislatures are more amenable to the radical notion.

Holden thus joins company that includes former Gov. Mel Carnahan, and former President Clinton, who both signed similar bills.

The reason for avoiding the usual bill-signing fanfare, in each case, is that gays have become a key constituency group, and an even more important sources of contributions, within the Democratic Party. Like Clinton and Carnahan before him, Holden won their support, and is loathe to offend them unnecessarily.

The important thing is that in the end, Holden did the right thing and signed the bill defending traditional marriage.